My goodness. I hope that wasn’t an alcoholics anonymous pamphlet.

The first paragraph made me feel your protagonist wanted to just talk to someone. Anyone.

The second made me feel that your protagonist was just trying call a number on the pamphlet. And a not too personal number either.

That was your best piece yet! And I think socks gets it, that is what the paragraphs meant, however it is not in contrast at all as socks assumes, but rather a progression of thought and very much the same thing. The number could be anyone on the other end.
I did not get the significance of the pamphlet until the end, which made for a good read!

Thanks for reviewing Socks and Elsha! I was definitely hoping I didn’t have to spell out what the pamphlet was for – thanks for reassuring that the way I presented it was OK.

Passion – Elsha got the gist there, but if it helps you understand, I think the character at first almost wanted the hotline to magically know and call so he wouldn’t have to. Looking back, that’s probably not 100% clear.